Omaha daily bee., 1887-06-26
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS
An Unnecessary and Silly Lot Of Questions
Propounded to Candidates.
THEoLD CLERKS IMPOSED UPON
Wyoming Desert Land Entries Sc
cured by Thomas Sturgis to BE
Caucelled-The Cruiser
Chicago.
Terrors OF the Civil Service.


Terrors OF the Civil Service.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-ISpecial Tele-
gram to the BEE. Nothing authoritative can
be learned about the recent examination for
promotion in the quartermaster generals Of
flee under the new civil service rules, but
there is well founded report adoat which
receives credence in department circles
that out of thirty-eight examined but ten
passed the examination successfully. 1t Is
tsaid that correct answers to many OF the
questions asked would in no way show the
efficiency of the clerks, and that these very
questions, which would be easy enough for
young man or woman fresh from school,
were the greatest stumbling blocks to the
Oldest clerks, who had been promoted for ef-
ficiency because they had given their atten-
tion for many years to official duties and not
o school study. 1t said that one man EN-
ployed in the disbursing clerks offi ce made
no attempt to answer the mathematical queS-
tions asked, and yet he was always regarded
as competent clerk and conducted his &C.
counts correctly. 1t Is claimed that the ma
jority of competitors were so hurried by
the realization of the danger of
failure that they could not do justice to
themselves. Ladies in particular were at
disadvantage. Those who had families de-
pendant upon their earnings for support
were so overcome with fear and nervousness
at the danger of being thrown out of employ
ment that they were made sick, and in one
or two instances tainted, and had to be car
ried home. The clerks begin to feel that
there is no doubt that the promotion cXaml-
nations will afford ample opportunity for the
discharge OF all employees whose services are
to be dispensed with at the end of the fiscal
year In accordance with the law. Indeed, II
is said that the civil service commission will
soon be called upon to designate S scholarly
of tried and efficient clerks, who are some
what rusty In arithmetic and geography.
Thomas Sturgis' Desert Lands.
WASHINGTON, June 25. - Commi ssioner
Sparks to-day took the necessary preliminary
steps to cancel fty-live desertland entries in
Wyoming territory, aggregating in area about
$1,000 acres. The commissioner states that
the final proof in all these cases is substan-
TALLY the same, and is to the effect that by
means of bitches already constructed, an
ample supply of water is at hand to properly
irrigate the land. etc. The special agent of
upon a majority of the entries no bitches
that would carry water have ever been con-
structed, and the few, that have been con-
structed were never utilized. What was done
of the Goshen Hole ditching company and
an officer of the Union cattle company.
Each OF the entries, 1t Is asserted, were made
in the interest of one of the two companies
entrymen, seven live in Wyo ming, seven in
New Jersey. thirty in New York. and eleven
in Massac husetts., inspector Bowers went to
New ork, New Jersey and Massachusetts
The information he gained shows that Mr..
Sturgis procured the making of the entries.
These foreign entrymen made entries merely
to oblige FRIEND" and never considered
they actually had any interest in the lands,
nor have they had any individual water
rights. They signed papers they did not ex-
anime or know the purport, of, simply be-
cause. by 80 doing. they could serve a friend,
and not one of them ever anticipated any re-
muneration for so doing.
Washington's Betting Mania.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-lSpecial to the
BEE, ,l-Although there are no races in pro-
gress in Washington at this season of the
year, the sports at the Capital have every op-
portunity to risk their money on their
favorite flyers. and there are thousands of
dollars put up on the Sheepshead Bay, Lex
ington and other meetings every day in the
week. Washington has a number Of very
successful pool rooms where the department t
clerk, the official and the stray member of
congress can invest on his judgment in sums
from 81 to 81, ,OO0or more. One of these places
is located within two blocks of the treasury de-
partment, and every day at noon crowd of
lunch hour watching the black boards on
which the odds are announced. Since these
rooms became fixtures in life at Washington.
taH aT Hacos @ h aops bsnss hsys FfRStsa Ts gs
Of the wheat market and tho dullness in
the oil exchange have frightened the deposit
tors OF margins into some new scheme for at
tempting to increase their holdings on the 100
per cent plan. 1t Is lamentable fact that
when the mania for the gambling table takes
hold OF the department clerk, nothing short
of 100 per cent profit will satisfy him, conse-
quently the pool rooms and the lottery shops
employees hundreds of thousands of dollars
in the course of a year. Several attempts
have been made to check this gambling mania
but without success. Last year bill to pro-
gress, but died in the other. and so long as
men are determined to back their judgment
of horse flesh with their money, the book
makers will continue to reap rich harvest
among the clerks of the national capital.
The Capitals Real Estate Boom.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-ISpecal to
the BEE. .I-"All this real estate boom in
Washington or rather in the suburbs of
Washington, reminds me very forcibly OF
the methods adopted by the boomers in the
| west" said a gentleman who has spent many
years west of the OHIO river. "Only short
| time ago was in Wichita, Kan, just when
| the boom in that town started. Wichita wa:
| very comfortable little city of 1000 or 5,0O(
Inhabitants and these inhab itants were
doing very well in their legitimate business
when three professional boomers struck
them. These men first bought up options on
all the real estate that was for sale in the
city. Then they went to man who had
| lived in the town ever since it was founded
and offered him Sl2,5 for piece of land
with brick store on 1t that was not worth
cent over $4,000. OF course sale was made
and the cash was paid over. They took care
that every one should know just what hey
had paid for the property. Then the boom
started. Everyone owning a foot OF lane
within the confines Of Wichita at one.
raised his figures to conform to those secured
for the property just sold and trading in real
estate began on large scale. 1t was not no
ticed that the original boomers sold out nj
| their holdings including the ontions unfi